Saddled with knowledge at Binda

In January 1977, Mr Lancaster said his 15-year-old self was approached by Mr Thomas Lidbetter to join him as his apprentice. 

“I'm coming up to 40 years in the trade and I'm still learning to this day,” Mr Lancaster said. “I was one of the last ones to learn under an indentured apprenticeship in learning the trade, where most just do a short course now.” 

Mr Lancaster said as a teenager knowledge of horses in a saddling apprenticeship was an advantageous. 

“I learnt to use leather in a lot of different ways, by making saddles, strapping, canvas work,” he said. 

“I learned from two brothers – Thomas and Fred – Thomas taught me saddles and harness making, while I learned how to make boots with Fred at the same time.

“I was lucky enough to learn two trades at the same time.” 

Mr Lancaster said as president of the SHMAA he has to abide by the code of ethics, in upholding the quality of Australian manufacturing in the saddling industry.

“We have 120 members (of the SHMAA) at the moment – some of the senior members are dying out, but we have newer members coming in who have learned the whole trade of boots, rugs and straps etc,” he said. 

“But some of our new members only specialise in one area, the industry needs diversifying with people learning the full trade.

“Times have changed in the industry and we need to change with it or it will stagnate and die out.” 

Mr Lancaster said in the past there hasn’t been the same amount of interest there is now for learning the trade and he wants to pass his knowledge on to keen learners. 

“We want to pass the trade on by holding classes for people to learn and at different times we have enough numbers to come on, but a few years ago you wouldn't get that,” Mr Lancaster said. 

“TAFE Scone is bringing back a training module for people to learn coming into the trade with no theory component.

“We want to pass on knowledge to them they can use.” 

He said there are only three or four saddlers around who are qualified to teach as a trainer.

“As time goes on, one can go and become qualified,” Mr Lancaster said. 

“There's a central area for apprentices to be assessed on their levels of competency.” 

Mr Lancaster said Bede Aldridge of Saddle and Co, Dubbo, was previously his apprentice and he has now taken on another. 

“I and three people in Victoria make a lot of English saddles,” he said.

“Making a resurgence at the moment is the ladies’ side saddle – I’ve have had more people in (seeking side saddles) now than in the past few years.

“To make them from scratch or rebuild them successfully is quite hard and very few people do it.” 

He said ladies’ side saddles were big in the 1900s, before the style changed to the classic stock and English saddle.

“The side saddle almost died out, but there's been a resurgence in them, particularly with ladies and the Victorian Side Saddle Association.

“We're trying to rebuild them and let people know they don't have to go overseas, that they can be made by Aussie saddlers.” 

Mr Lancaster said there has been a recent turnaround with the Australian saddle market, as Aussies are boycotting Indian and Mexican-made stock saddles, because of their poor quality. 

“There was an increase in imported products, but people are unhappy with the quality and are looking to go back to Aussie made,” he said. 

“The quality of western saddles made here top those made in the United States and are better than 90 per cent of those coming in from overseas.” 

As an English saddler himself, Mr Lancaster said there are only a handful of people in the country who still make them, which have to compete against the imported products sent out from England. 

“Orders are constant at different times of the year, with shows etc,” he said.

“Now I'm just doing saddles because of the amount of work there is, I have no time to do other parts of the trade, I'm too busy.” 

He said he doesn't export as the local domestic market is keeping him entertained. 

“Unfortunately, the quality of (domestic) leather is not of a good enough standard, I have to import leather from Europe to made my saddles,” he said. 

“There's only one place which tans leather from scratch and several that finish the leather off, but they lack quality.

“I have good suppliers, because locally supplied leather is non-existent, overseas imported leather is better and the quality I require.” 

Branches of the association in each state regularly meet to discuss upcoming events in their region.

“We go to trade shows and this year we will have a demonstration at Total Equine, Toowoomba,” Mr Lancaster said. 

“The SHMAA had a feature exhibit at Sydney Royal Easter Show last year, combined with the whip makers, which was very well received and we are looking to have exhibits in each state.” 

He said as more imported products are flowing in, the association is looking to gather all its members to stage a feature exhibit just for them. 

“This year we have a push for the website to be updated, so people can find members close to them.”